Erasing and numbering machine



July 16, 1940. E. w. BILLINGS, J

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ATTjORNEY Patented July 16, 1940 wazomcs I v ERASING AND NUMBERING MACHINE Everett W. Billings, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor of one-third to Everett W. Billings, 'Sr.,

andone-third to Edith Angeles, Calif.

Billings, both of Los Application March 17, 1938, SerialNo. 196,460 3 Claims. (01. 101-1) This machine relates to that class of machines which are commonly termed business machines and is designed to perform certain operations on cards'used in connection with machines for compiling statistical data and also for filing and indexing purposes. In many of these business systems cards are used, on which are stamped certain filing or key numbers. This numbering is usually done with a hand numbering machine, and the ink generally used in such machines penetrates the material ofvthe card and is practically impossible to erase. The inability to erase or change the number on the card prevents the card from being used more than once, and as some offices use many thousand of such card's monthly, and if the key number could beerased and re-printed as many timesas the life of the cardstock would permit, great economy would result in the yearly expenditure for such cards.

, As a preliminary operation prior to the use of my invention, a dark or black spot is printed on the card, such printing forming a surface on which the key. numbers can be printed in white or other contrasting color and preventingthe numbering ink from penetrating the material of the card.

This application is a continuation in part of my, application Serial Number 17,519, filed April 20, 1935 now Patent No. 2,114,462, for Erasing machines. The machine described in the above application provided a means for automatically removing or erasing the said key figures, thus preparing the card for the reprinting with a new number or. symbol. .With the 1 means provided by'this prior machine the cards are fed through the machine and as each card passes through it the numbers are erased, preparing the cards for renumbering and enabling the cards to be used repeatedly. It will be noticed'that this prior machine does not provide for the printing ofthe dark spot nor for the printing of the new number. In the application above referred to the statement was made that-it was my intention to invent a machine provided with a numbering device for re-numbering the cards after the erasure of the old number had been made. This has been accomplished in the machine embodied in this application with the additional function of being able also to printthe dark spot on the said cards. In this machine the cards arefed through the erasing mechanism which erases the former number and then passes over the numbering mechanism which renumbers the said cards. In the above functions the cards are passed through face down. The erasing mechanism. is so arranged that it can print the dark spot on the said card instead of erasing, in this case the cards being fed through face up. It will be understood that the printing of the dark spot could not be accomplished simultaneously with the erasing and renumbering, as the printing on the dark spot requires time to dry before being numbered.

I- accomplish these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with most of the parts being shown in diagrammatic form and with the chains omitted. Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine, also having much of the mechanism shown in diagrammatic form, and with the chains omitted. Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the motor and chain drive. Figure 4 is a plan view of the motor, the chain drive, and the cam-shaft drive, the latter being partly diagramlmatic. Figure 5 is a side elevation, partly in sections, showing the method of lifting the cards preparatory to feeding the said cards through the 7 machine; Figure 6 is a plan view, partlyin section, showing the ratchet mechanism by which the cards are lifted. Figure '7 is a detailed frag mentary .view, partly in section, showing the method by which the lifting mechanism engages the lifting screw. Figure 8 is a plan view show- 0 ing the method of engaging the lifting screw.

-Figure 8A is a side elevation of the same with the screw in section. Figure 9 is a plan view of the card feeding mechanism. Figure 10 is a side elevation of the card feeding mechanism. Figure 11 is a side elevation of the card. hold-down bracket and wheel. Figure 12 is a front view of the inking and erasing mechanism. Figure 13 is an endvi'ew of the inking and erasing mechanism. Figure 14 is a plan view showing the 0 mechanism for inking or. for applying pressure to the cards when erasing. Figure 15 shows the ink holding device and the interchangeable felt member. Figure 16 is an end elevation of the numbering mechanism showing the ribbon feed and reversing mechanism. Figure 17 is an end view from the opposite side of Figure 16 showing the detailed method of operating the number changing device, the ribbon reversing mechanism, and the pressure arm for pressing the cards i down onto the numbering machine. Figure 18 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figures 16 and 17, with the driving mechanism omitted. Figure 19 is a view of one of the cards showing a-preferred arrangement of dark spots and numbers. Figures 20 and 20A show a plan View of the two endless chains in their spaced relation to each other. Figure 21 is a side view of the said chains showing the card-pusher in its upright position. Figure 22 is a plan view of the card-pusher mechanism. Figure 23 is a crosssectional view of the card rails, the same being shown in proper relation to the rails in Figure 22. Figure 24 is a plan view of the intermittent cardfeed mechanism. Figure 25 is a side elevation of the intermittent mechanism.

The construction of this machine is as follows: I is a base plate on which the various elements are mounted. Located near the back of the base plate I are stanchions 2A, 2-B, 2C, and 2-D which serve the purpose of locating and supporting the cam-shaft 3 and other elements. Located near the front of the machine are other stanchions 4 which are adapted to support the cardtracks 5 and also to provide bearings for the chain and cam-shaft drives. The chain drive mechanism consists of the motor 6 mounted on the base I and having on its armature-shaft! a worm 8. This worm engages the teeth of the worm-wheel 9 having on its transverse shaft ll) two sprocket-wheels ll adapted to drive the two card-carrying chains I2. Mounted on the stanchion 4A is a transverse sprocket-shaft !8 carrying thereon two sprocket-wheels l9. At the end of the machine adjacent to the card-feeding mechanism and jo-urnaled in the stanchion 4B is a similar transverse shaft l4 having mounted thereon two sprocket-wheels l5. Also located on the stanchion i-A is a similar transverse shaft l 6 carrying thereon two sprocket-wheels l i. The endless chains I2 are adapted to be actuated by the sprocket l 0 and travel over the other sprockets ll, l5, and I9, the'direction of movement of said chain being shown by the arrow. In Figures l and 2 the locations of the various mechanisms are as follows: the card-lifting mechanism is at A, the card-feed mechanism at B, the card hold-down mechanism at C, the inking or erasing mechanism at D, the numbering mechanism at E and the discharge mechanism at F.

The card-lifting mechanism consists of a box 23 open at its rear end and of a size suitable to receive a supply of the cards to be acted upon. Vertically mounted on the base I and also mount-v ed at its upper end on a plate 2| is a lifting-screw 22. The lifting-screw 22 has near its lower end a ratchet-wheel 23 adapted to be actuated by the pawl 24, this pawl being actuated by a cam 25 located on the cam-shaft 3, this cam 25 being adapted to actuate the lever 26 and link 21, the lever 25 being held against the cam 25 by the spring 28. The motion of the lever 25 and the link 2'! is communicated to the said pawl 24 by the slide plate 30, and the length of stroke can be varied by means of the adjusting'screw 29. Located on the front wall of the card-box 20 are vertically disposed guides 3!. Adapted to rise and fall within the guides 3i is a plate 32 having connected thereto a lifting-platform 33. On the front of the said plate 32 is mounted an additional plate 34 being spaced from said plate 32 by means of the blocks 35. Hingedly mounted on the plate 34 are two half-nuts 36. Between the said half-nuts 36 is a spreader-bar 3'5 capable of being actuated by the knob 33 by means of which the said half-nuts can be disengaged or engaged with the lifting screw 22, thus enabling the lifting-platform 33 and its associated mechanism to be lifted or lowered at will, to suit the number of cards located in said box 20.

The construction of the card-feeding device is 4 as follows: Pivotally mounted at 65 on the stanchion 2-Ais a cam-lever 66 having located on its lower end a cam-roll 61 adapted to be actuated by the cam 68, the latter being located on the cam-shaft 3. The upper portion of the camlever 66 has a rubber-tired wheel 69, revo-lvably mounted on a shaft 10, the latter being journaled- 7 shaft 75 journaled in a bracket. of the stanchion 2A. The shaft 75 is driven by the beveled gear 17 and bevel pinion 73, the said bevel gear Tl being driven by the cam-shaft 3. It will be seen that the mechanism causes an alternate rise,

and fall of the rubber-tired wheel 69 and as this wheel revolves rapidly it feeds a card fromthe card-holder into position from whence it feeds through the machine, one card being fed each time the wheel 69 presses down on the said cards. Bracketed on one of the supporting, card-tracks 5 is an arm 19, having journaled in its outer end a rubber-tired wheel'Sll adapted to bear down on the card which has just left the card-feed mechanism. This wheel 39 is not power driven.

The construction of the inking and erasing mechanism is as follows: Supported on the base plate I is a spacer member 39 having mounted on its upper side a tank 46 for the purpose of holding the solvent used in the erasing process.

The said tank can be filled through the opening and plug 4i. In the upper part of the tank 40 is a shaft 42 carrying thereon a felt Wheel .43, the latter being of such'size that its lower edge dips into the solution in the tank 40 and on its upper side is adapted to bear against the under side of the card 44. Also located within the said tank is a lever arm 45 carrying a small felt wheel 46 which in turn is provided with a wick 4.1 for the purpose of feeding the solvent tothe felt wheel 43, especially when the quantity of solvent in the tank 40 is low. Motion is imparted to the lever 45 by means of a rod 48 which is connected to the cam-lever 49. The felt .wheel 43 is driven by the auxiliary electric motor 50 which drives the said wheel 43 by. means of the. spring belt 5|. Means are also provided for varying the height of the wheel 43 andtherefore the pressure against the card to be erased, said adjustment being accomplished by the hinge 52 and adjusting-screw 53. Pivotally mounted at 49A' on the stanchion 2 B is a cam-lever 49 adapted to be actuated by the cam 54 On the cam-shaft 3 and by the cam-roll 55, the said roll 55 being held against the said cam 54 by means of a spring 56. The outer end of the lever 49 is provided with a receptacle 51 adapted to receive a suitable block of felt or similar material 58, the latter being held in place by a screw 59. When this lever is used in connection with.

- ratchet-feed pawl 96 is obtained by the motion of being fed through the passage 63 communicating with the felt block 58 which becomes saturated= with the material contained in the receptacle 6|. The flow of said printing material is controlled by the thumb screw 64.

The construction of the numbering mechanism is as follows: Mounted on. the base I is a supporting column 8| having mounted on the top of said column a numbering device 82 of the ordinary type and provided with means for number changing as each card passes through the machine. Thecards 44 are fed over the num- 'bering device 82 and the number is impressed or printed on the under side of the card. As each card stops in the proper position for the numbering to be impressed or printed on the dark spot on said card, a presser-plate 83 clamps down on top of the card 44 insuring good contact between the numbering device and the card. This presser-p1ate'83 is carried on an arm 84 pivoted at 85 on the stanchion 2C and having a camlever 86 adapted to engage the cam 81 which is mounted on the cam-shaft 3. This cam is so designed and timed that the presser-plate 83 comes down on the card 44 very quickly and with considerable pressure, aided by the spring 84-A,

and due to the shape of the camv is very quickly released. Adapted to be threaded over the numerals of the numbering device 82 and between said numerals and the under side of the card 44 is a ribbon 88 coated or impregnated with a suitable pigment which will be visible when impressed upon the said dark spots. Located near the bottom of the column 8| are two spools 89 having ratchet teeth 90 on the periphery of each wheel. The ribbon 88 is wound on the cores of the ribbon spools 89 and extends upwardly, being threadecl through slots in a reversing arm 9|; thence around guide pins 92 and thence up and over the aforesaid numbering device 82. Near each end of the ribbon is a small eyelet 94 snapped onto the said ribbon and which is of a size which will not pass through the slot 93 in the reversing arm. 9 I. When the eyelet 94 reaches the slot 93 and fails to pass through it it lifts the said arm 9| which reverses the ribbon-feed ratchet pawl 95. So the said ratchet pawl shifts over to the opposite ratchet spool 89 and the locking pawls 96 are also reversed as regards that contact with the teeth 90 of the said ratchet. The method of feeding or rotating either of the ratchet spools 89 is accomplished by a cam-lever 91 pivotally mounted at 98 on the stanchion 2C and having on one end a roll 99 adapted to be actuated by the eccentric I00. On the opposite end of the cam lever 91 is a slot IOI which is located under the main reversing lever I02. This reversing lever is journaled on the pin I03 having attached to its lower end and extended through to the opposite side of the column 8| a pin 95A which is secured to the ribbon-feed ratchet pawl 95. The reversing arm 9| is also secured to the shaft I03. Also secured to the shaft I03 is a springlever I04 having a spring I05 attached to the column 8| at I06 in such a manner that when the shaft I03 is partially rotated the said springlever will move to the opposite position, the spring I05 holding the shaft I03 and its associated parts in that position until it is again reversed by the action of the ribbon eyelet 94 on the reversing arm 9|. Also pivotally mounted on the shaft I03 is a plate I01 having arms I08 curved.

of the cam lever 91, being given a reciprocating motion by the eccentric I00. Mounted on a vertical shaft H at the side of the column 8| is a slide III having at its upper portion two arms 2 and H3, the arm II2 being operatively connected to the number-changing device of the numbering device 82 by means of the rod II4. Mounted on the arm H3 is a connecting link II attached to the presser-plate arm 84 and by that means causes the reciprocating motion of the slide III, thus changing the number as each card passes through. If desired the numbering device can be arranged so as to provide for a group of numerals such as 182 in Figure 19 which ,do not change as each card passes through but continues to print on each card the same number until changed manually. In addition to this group of numerals therecan be an additional set of numerals which change or advance as each card passes through it. One of the applications of this feature is'that the first group of numerals may represent a stock number of goods'in inventory and the second group may represent the individual number assigned to each carton or packing case containing said goods.

The card-pusher mechanism is shown in Figures 22 and 23, there being two of these mechanisms complete in each machine. This mechanism consists of the two cross members I|6 secured to the under side of the rails 5. Slidably mounted on the members I I 6 are slide plates I I1. The slide plates II1 are actuated by the eccentrio I2I, mounted on the cam-shaft 3, and connected to said slide plates III by means of the eccentric rod'I22, the rod I20, the bell crank I I8, and the link I|8a.. This eccentric I2I operates thecard-pusher mechanism on each alternate advance of the cards 44. tending from the slide plate II1 are two members I23 having slotted ends adapted to engage a pin I24 on a bar I25. This bar actuates the levers I26 which in turn actuate the card-pusher depresser members I21. Attached to one of the bars I25 is a rod I28 connecting the saidvbar with a bell crank I29, the lever I30, and a rotary stop |3I which is adapted to rise and fall simultaneously with the action of the card-pusher depressers I21; The action of the stop |3I is that when in the raised position it serves to stop the progress of a card in the exact position for erasing or renumbering.

Figures 24 and 25 illustrate an alternative method of feeding the cards 44 through the machine. In the mechanism previously described the cardcarrying chains I2 move at a uniform speed and by means of the card-pusher I3 and the pusherdepressor and the stops |3| the cards are advanced and stopped in the proper position for the different operations. In this alternative construction an intermittent motion is provided for operating flat belts I 4| driven by the,sprockets I40, the said belts moving into each position and pausing there for the time required for the operation and then advancing to the next position. This mechanism consists of a worm 8 mounted on the motor shaft 1 and actuates a worm-wheel 9. The worm-wheel shaft I0 drives the spur-gears I32, I33, and I34, the latter attached to a stopplate I35 which carries a roller I 31 adapted to actuate the star Wheel or Geneva stop which in turn drives the gear I39, the pinion I49,and the sprockets I40, the said sprockets being provided with teeth I42 adapted to engage the perforations I41 in the two belts I4I. These Transversely experforations are located at spaced distances from each other corresponding to the spacing of the teeth on the said sprockets I40. The card-pushers in this case become the buttons I43 which are adapted to carry the cards to the different stations, paushing for each operation, and thence delivering the said cards into the receiving chamber I45. On the worm-wheel shaft [0, in addition to the gear I32 is a spiral gear I44, actuating a second spiral gear I45 by means of which the motion of the shaft I is communicated to the cam-shaft 3.

It has been stated that the cards going through the machine for erasing and re-numbering are fed through face down. In order to reverse the cards so that the re-numbered face is visible in the pack delivered by the machine to the receiving chamber F a rod I 46 shown in Figures 1 and 2 projects part way across the receiving chamber F, and as the card is shot out of the machine it falls on this rod and in falling automatically turns to a face up position in the said chamber.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The cards M being placed in the receptacle 2D resting on the elevator platform 33, the pack of cards is lifted by the elevator or card-feed mechanism at A in Figures 1 and 2 until the top card is in position to be fed onto the chain drive i2, this being accomplished by the mechanism shown in Figures 5, 6, '7, 8, and 8A, the elevator rising in amount equal to the thickness of a card as each ca d leaves the pack. The card-feed shown as at B in Figures 1 and 2 and in Figures 9 and 10 bears intermittently on the top card in the receptacle 23. and by its high-speed rubber-tired wheel 69, feeds the card forward into position where the chains l2 can pick up the card and carry it along. The rubber-tired wheel Blland as at C in Figures 1 and 2 serves to hold the cards down on the chain mechanism and rails 5. The first station D reached by the card is that of erasing whatever numbers may be on the dark area 6!] of the cards 44. This is accomplished by means of pressure from above and the application of solvent underneath the said card. When the machine is used for erasing and re-numbering the cards are fed into the machine face down, that is, with the numbers on the under side of the card. If it is desired to print the dark area 60 upon cards 44, the cards are then fed into the machine face up, and the pressure arm 49 has its ink receptacle 6! connected to'feed the ink into the felt 5?. In this case the re-numbering mechanism is manually disengaged. This mechanism is illustrated by Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15. The card then passes to the re-numbering mechanism as at E in Figures 1 and 2, this mechanism being shown by Figures 16, 1'7, and 18. After the operation at E the card is passed through into the receiving receptacle F, reversing as it falls.

The operation of the card-pusher mechanism is as follows: When the chains l2 carrying pushers 53 come to the top of the rails upon which the chains ride the said pushers contact pins on the said chain-carrying rails causing the said pushers all to rise to pushing position as shown in Figures 20, A, and 21. A card is moved forward by means of the feed wheel 69 onto the chains just ahead of the pushers as they travel forward. When the card reaches the inking or printing station D the pushers are depressed'and allow the card to remain for a period of time equal to one pusher space. At the same time the stop it! arises in the center .of the runway in order to stop and hold the card stationary while the inking or cleaning operation is performed. The next pusher remains upright as the depressor I2! is out of the path of the pusher, and the card is carried forward to the next station E for renumbering. This same performance takes place at this station, and after re-numbering the card is carried forward to the receiving chamber F. When the flow of cards has begun, the cleaning and numbering stations operate simultaneously; thus there is a card being cleaned and another being re-numbered at the same time.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for erasing previously printe data from cards and printing in the areas left clear by such erasure, the combination of an erasing, machine, a printing device, meansfor advancing said cards successively past said erasing machine and said printing device comprising means for arresting said cards at said erasing machine and at said printing device to erase an area. and to print-in registry With said erased area, and timed mechanism for operating said card advancing and arresting means, said erasing machine and said printing device. I

2. In a machine for erasing previously printed data from cards and printing in the areas left clear by such erasure, the combination of an erasing machine, comprising a rotary erasing member and a reciprocable member to press said cards against said rotary member, a printing device, means for advancing said cards successively past said erasing machine and said printing device comprising means for arresting said cards at said erasing machine and at said printing device to erase an area and to print in registry with said erased area, and timed mechanism for operating said card advancing and arresting means, said erasing machine and said printing device.

3. In a machine for erasing previously printed data from cards and printing in the areas left clear by such erasure, the combination of an erasing machine, comprising a rotary erasing member and a reciprocable member to press said cards against said rotary member, means to supply said rotary member with solvent fluid, a printing device, means for advancing said cards successively past said erasing machine and said printing device comprising means for arresting said cards at said erasing machine and at-said printing device to erase an area and to print in registry with said erased area, and timed mechanism for operating said card advancing and are resting means, said erasing machine and said printing device.

EVERETT w. BILLINGS, JR. 

